Apparatus for generating carbonic-acid gas.



(No Model.)

F. A. VFELDKAMP.

Patented .luly 29. |902.

APPARATUS FOR GNERATING CARBONIC ACID GAS.

' Application med ou. s. xsol.)

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ATTORNEY No. 705,570. Pafented 1u|y 29, |902.

F.. A. FELDKAMP.

APPARATUS FOR GENEBATING GARBONIG ACID GAS.

(Application led (1ctA 5. 1901.) (No Model.) Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR oggzwn FRHTAFEWKANP.

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'Patented July 29, |902.

F. A. FELDKAMP.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING CARBNIC ACIDGAS.

Application ilud Oct.. 5. 190i.)

3 Sheets Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES r .THE Nonms PE1-:Rs co, moro-umn. vmsmncrcn. o c.

` UNITED STATES] PATENT n (DFFICE.

FRITZ A. FELDKAMP, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING CARBONlC-ACID GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,570, dated July 29, 1902. Application iiled October 5, 1901. Serial No. 77,650. (No model.)

ings, and to iigures of reference markedpppthereon, whichform a part ofthis specification.

This invention has reference generally to improvements in apparatus for` generating carbonio-acid gasggand the present invention relates moreparticularly to a novel form and construction of apparatusin which `carbonicacid gasis produced asrcquired and is maintained under constant pressure and in which as the gas is drawniofl, fon consumption an tion when required. i i U p This invention has for its principal objects,`

equivalent amount of gas is immediately reproduced and stored under a constant pressure ready for vbeing drawn off for consumpto provide a novel and simply-constructed apparatus which is especially designed for the purposes lhereinabove stated and, furthermore, to provide an apparatus in which after a predetermined volume of carbonio-,acid gas has been generated the carbonate is automaticallyforced out of" chemical action with an active liquid, such as diluted sulfuric acid or a solution of'bisulfate of soda, and a further production of carbonio acid ceases until a fresh supply of gas'isidrawn olf, when this drawn-off gas is replaced by a new supply of carbonio-acid gas, which is immediately and automatically produced by the carbonate with which-the activeliquid has again been brought in chemical action. To this end a highly-organized type vof apparatus is produced `foreconomical working on a commercial scale in which carbonio-acid gas of a predetermined volume is produced intermittently as consumed and is maintained under a constant pressure, a new'supply of the gas being immediately reproduced which is the equivalent of the volu me of carbonio-acid gas drawn o for consumption.

A further objectof thisinvention is to pro- Vide,in;connect`i on with al1-apparatus of the character hereinabove stated, a-wmeans or mechanism `which can be settolregulate the intermittent production of carbonio-acid gas, the previously-determined pressure, Whether ten-or more or less pounds, at all times being maintained constant. i i l t A further object of this invention is to provide anovel means in which the carbonate is supported in such a manner thatit is evenly consumed when chemical action` takes place withoututhe least danger of the clogging of the saltS, which might otherwisereduce the usefulness of the device.

With these several objects in view my presentinvention consistsin the novel construction ofwapparatus to be fully described in the following specification, the several combinations ofthe partsthereof beingarranged and constructed gwithwa view rtdminimizethe personal attentionofan operator. ,s

The invention consists, furthermore, in the of the parts comprising the apparatus, as well as in thevdetails of. the construction of the said parts, all of which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.v

The said` invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures l and 2 are vertical sections of an apparatus `embodying the principles of this invention, Fig. 1 illustrating the inner mechanismgof the, apparatus in its inactive position whenmthere is no generation of gas, and Fig.` 2 representing the active position of the inner mechanism when there is generation of gas. paratus. Fig. 4: is a horizontal cross-section ofthe same, saidsectionbeing taken on line 4 4 in said Fig. 2; and Fig. f5 is asimilar section taken on line `5.5 4inthe same ligure. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the various parts comprising the inner mechanism of the apparatus, the said parts being removed from Fig. 3 is a top or plan View of `the ap! vvarious novel arrangements and combinations the apparatus preparatory to charging the said parts with a carbonate. Fig. 7 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the carbonate-receiving receptacle. Fig. 8 is a top or plan view of the same. Fig; 9 is a hori- Zontal cross-section of the device, taken on line 9 9 in said Fig. 7; and Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the said parts. Fig. 11 is a detail vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the lower portion of a supporting-rod and a perforated bottom disk or plate arranged Within the lower and open end of the carbonate-receiving receptacle, the said sectional representation being on a line 11 11 in the said Fig. 10.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said above-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

In the said drawings the reference character 1 indicates the complete apparatus which is to be employed for the production of carbonio-acid gas in the manner to be presently described in detail. The said apparatus consists, essentially, of a cylinder or casing 2 of any suitable metal, such as copper, which is closed at the bottom by means of a plate 3, suitably secured in place by means of rivets or in any other desired manner. The upper portion of the said cylinder 2 is preferably made dome shape, being provided `With a suitable opening, as 4, having a screw-thread, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Screwed into this opening 4 is a closure or cover 5, which is formed with a centrally-disposed nut-shaped enlargement 6, provided with a central opening and a gland 7, lche said enlargement 6 and the gland 7 forming a suitable stuffing-box, in'which is slidably arranged a rod 25, for the purposes to be hereinafter more fully set forth. The said cover 5 can be unscrewed from the open-l ing 4 by turning it by means of the said nutshaped enlargement 6 when'the apparatus is to be charged. It will be fully understood that any other suitably formed and constructed cover or lid may be employed, if desired, for closing the opening in the dome-shaped part of the apparatus. Connected with the dome portion of the cylinder 2 is a press ure indicator or gage 8, a safety-valve 9, and an outlet 10, the said outlet 10 being provided'with a valve 11, through which the generated carbonic-acid gas can be withdrawn from the cylinder 2. Suitably suspended within the said cylinder or casing 2 at any desired height by means of a suitable ring 12, which is secured in position by rivets 13 or any other means of suspension, is an inner cylinder 14, which is open at the top and bottom, as shown. The

lower portion of this inner cylinder 14 does not extend to near the bottom 3 of the outer cylinder 2, and said cylinder is of such a diameter that an annular compression-chamber 15 is formed by the said two concentrically-arranged cylinders 2 and 14, the said chamber 15 being closed at the top by the solid ring 12 or other means of suspension that may be employed. As shown in the several figures of the drawings, the inner surface of the outer cylinder 1 has a suitablyproduced lining or covering 16, of lead, and the inner cylinder 14, which is also made of copper or other suitable metal, is provided on both of its surfaces with a covering 17, of lead, these coverings serving to prevent the acid solution employed in the apparatus from attacking the said cylinders, which would otherwise soon render the apparatus useless for the purposes for which it is intended. The upper portion of the annular chamber 15 and the upper interior part vof the outer cylinder 2 are preferably connected by means of a pipe 18, in which there is a shut-off or Valve 19. In communication with a tubular box 2O or other suitable device in the said annular chamber 15 is an outlet pipe or duct 2l, of lead or any other material which is not attacked by the acid solution, and a pipe 22 leads through the wall of the outer cylinder 2, said pipe 22 being provided with a discharge nozzle or valve '23, substantially as illustrated. An outlet-nozzle or dischargecock 24 may also be arranged in the lowest portion of the outer cylinder 2, the said cock 24 being made of a suitable material, such as lead, which cannot be destroyed by the action of the acid solution upon the same. The previously-mentioned rod 25, which, as has been stated, is slidably arranged in the stuffing-box connected with the cover 5, is provided with suitably-arranged graduations 26 and a handle or lift 27. A stop-plate 28 is adjustably arranged on said rod and is secured in its adjusted position by means of a set-screw 29. The lower end of the said rod 25 is preferably made with a screw-socket 30, into which is screwed a screw end 32 of a rod 31, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. Slidably arranged upon the sai'd connected rods 25 and 3l is a cap or plate 33, to which is secured, by means of bolts or rivets 34, the closed 'end 36 of a suitable cylinder or receptacle 35. rThe said receptacle 35, which is also preferably made of copper, is provided on both its inner and outer surfaces with a cove-ring 36', of lead or other material which is not attacked by the acid solution. The said cylinder or receptacle 35 is provided with any desirable number of holes or perforations 37, which also extend through the said coverings 36'. The inner surfaces of the said holes orA perforations are also lined with lead, as shown.

The cap or plate 33 is formed on its under surface with a screw-threaded socket or other receiving portion 3S, into which is screwed or otherwise secured the upper end 40 of a piece of tubing or a pipe 39, which is also provided with oppositely-placed slots 41, extending from the lower end of said tube or IOO ' pipe to a point near the upper fastening end apparatus and arranged in a slot 42 in the lower end of said rod 31, and secured in place by means of a nut 44, which is screwed upon the screw portion 43, formed on said end, is a fiat cross piece 0r bar 45. This cross piece or bar 45 is formed with a pair ofwings 46, and secured thereto by means of rivets 47 or in any other suitable manner is a disk or plate 48, which has a covering 49, ot' lead or other similar metal, and may be provided with suitably-disposed holes or perforations 50.` The said disk or plate 48 is snugly fitted in the inner cylindrical part of the receptacle 35 in such a manner that the said receptacle can move in a downward direction without friction and without the clogging of the carbonate which isplaced in the said receptacle.

Having thus described the general arrangement and construction of the various parts of the apparatusembodying the principles of my invention, I will now set forth the manner of charging the apparatus and the subsequent process of generating carbonicacid gas.

The first step is to unscrew the cover 5 and by means of the handle or lift 27 of vthe rod 25 remove the perforated cylinder or receptacle 35 and the various other parts connected with saidrod 25, arranging them in the manner indicatedin Fig. 6 of the drawings. The valve or shut-oif 19 in the pipe 18 is then openedand the apparatus filled with diluted sulfuricacid or a solution of bisulfate of soda to about one-half of the combined capacities of the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 14 or to such a height that when the receptacle 35 is again returned into the apparatus there will besuflicient space for the receptacle 35 above the level of the active material or solution without said receptacle coming in contact with the said solution should it be desired to suspend the said receptacle 35 above the said solution. The valve or shut-off 19 is then closed and the^ cylinder or receptacle 35, which has been previously charged with carbonate of soda or any carbonate of the alkali metals in any suitable form and shape and which is retained in the said cylinder or receptacle 35 by slipping the rods 25 and 3l and the bottom disk or plate 4S upwardly into the open bottom of the receptacle, as represented in Fig. 2 of the` drawings. The illed or charged receptacle is then inserted through the opening 4and the cover 5 secured in place to close the dome of the outer cylinder 2.`

Then the cylinder or receptacle35 ispushed down into the active solution of diluted sulfuric acid or bisulfate of soda to a point correspondin g to a pressure which is determined by the manufacturer by experience. All valves and cocks having been previously closed, the

stop-plate 28 is fixed at the graduation 26 on the rod 25 which corresponds to this previously determined pressure. Immediately chemical action takes place, as follows:

This action produces pressure, the CO2 or carbonic-acid gas collecting in the upper portions of the cylinders 2 and 14, and, having no opportunity of escape, the level of the liquid or active solution in the inner cylinder 14 is depressed, and, rising in the annular com-` pression-chamber 15, thereby compressing the inclosed air in said chamber 15 directly beneath the ring 12, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawings. The depression of the level of the solution in the inner cylinder takes place as `long as the said liquid is in contact with the carbonate in the receptacle 35, and the carbonic-acid gas continues to be generated and stored, the compression of the air in the chamber being equal to the pressure of the generated gas held prisoner in the upper portions of the cylinders 2 and 14. As soon as the level of the liquid within the inner cylinder 14 has been depressed below the lower edge of the receptacle 35 the chemicalaction between the carbonate and the diluted sulfuric acid or the bisulfate-of-soda solution ceases and there will be no further generation of they carbonio-acid gas. The generated gas is thus stored in the upper part of the said cylinders 2 and 14 until drawn oft for consumption through the outlet 10 when the valve 11 is opened. When the carbonic-acid gas is wholly or partially withdrawn in this manner and the valve 11 again closed, the pressure in the upper portions of the said cylinders 2 and 14 has been correspondingly reduced according to the volume of the gas consumed, and the compressed air in the annular compressionchamber 15 correspondingly depresses the level of the liquid or active solution in said annular chamber, wherebya corresponding rise of the liquid within the cylinder 14 is again produced. Asthis liquid rises the said receptacle 35 and its charge of carbonate are again immersed in the diluted sulfuric acid or the bicarbonate-of-soda solution, and the chemical action between the carbonate and the active solution again takes place as be fore. An amount of carbonio-acid gas which is the equivalent of the volume of the gas previously withdrawn is at once reproduced until the level of the liquid within the cylinder 14 is again depressed beneath the lower edge or bottom of the carbonate-containing receptacle,when the further production ofthe carbonic-acid gas once more ceases. `These several steps just described take place automatically and intermittently without any fur-` ther care or attention on the part of an operator, andthe gas is constantly reproduced as consumed and is furthermore maintained under a constant pressure until the last particles of the carbonate in the receptacle 35 have been fully consumed.

As has been previously stated, the carbonate-containing receptacle 35 can be set according to any previously-determined pressure by iixing the stop-plate 28 at the graduation 26 which corresponds to the said pressure, and the farther down into the cylinder 14 the said carbonate-containing receptacle is placed in the liquid the greater will be the pressure of the volume of carbonio-acid gas produced, and no matter what this pressure may be it will at all times remain constant. When the indicator or pressure-gage points to a mark below that of the `predetermined point of pressure of the carbonic-acid gas, this is an indication that the apparatus should be recharged and reiilled in the manner hereinabove described.

To remove the sulfuric acid or bisulfate-ofsoda solution from the apparatus at any time,

thevalve 19 and the cock or discharge-nozzle 23 are opened, and the remaining supply of the gas in the upper portions of the cylinders will force all the liquid into the pipe 22 and from the cock or nozzle 23, as will be clearly understood.

Should the pointer of the indicator 8 stand at the Zero-mark when it is desired to draw off the sulfuric acid or bisulfate-of-soda solution, then the outlet-nozzle or dischargecock 24 in the lower part of the outer cylinder 2 may be opened. The' advantage and the arrangement of the bottom disk or plate 4S is such that as the carbonate is being consumed and the cylinder or receptacle 35 is being gradually lowered the circumferential edge of the said plate or disk clears the inner cylindrical surface of the said receptacle 35 from any clinging particles of the salts, and that also without any undue friction between the several parts. The simplicity of the arrangement and construction of these parts of the apparatus and the many advantages obtained are evident from the previous description.

I am aware that changes may be made in the several arrangements and combinations of the various parts and the details of the construction of the said parts without departing from the scope of my invention. Hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various parts herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings; nor do I confine myself to. any of the exact details of the construction of the said parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. An apparatus for generating carbonicacid gas, comprising an outer and an inner cylinder, a closing means between the upper and outer portions of said inner cylinder and the interior surface of the outer cylinder, forming an annular chamber between the outer surface of the inner cylinder and the interior surface of the outer cylinder, the said inner cylinder having an opening in communication with the said annular chamber, whereby, under normal conditions, an active liquid in both said cylinders will be at the same level, a carbonate-containing receptacle in said inner cylinder, consisting, essentially, of a cylinder having perforated sides and a closed top and open bottom, and means for slidably supporting the said carbonate-containing receptacle at dierent points within the said inner cylinder, comprising, a supporting rod passing through a perforated plate secured to the top of said carbonate-containing receptacle, a slotted tube through which the said rod extends, said tube being secured within said receptacle, a bottom disk within the said carbonate-containing receptacle, and means for securingsaid disk in position to the lower end of the said supportingrod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In an apparatus for generating carbonicacid gas, thecombination, with a pair of concentric cylinders, having an open communication and an air-compression chamber, one of the said cylinders being provided with a removable closure, a supporting-rod extending through an opening in said closure and being slidably arranged therein, a carbonatecontaining receptacle, a perforated plate secured to the top of said carbonate-containing receptacle through which the said supportingrod passes, a slotted tube through which the said rod extends,said tube being secured within said receptacle, a bottom disk `within the said receptacle, and means for securing said disk in position on the lower end of the said supporting-rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In an apparatus for generating carbonicacid gas, the combination, with a chamber adapted to contain an active liquid, of a carbonate-containing receptacle, and means connected with said receptacle for setting said receptacle at different positions within said chamber, according to a predetermined pressure of the carbonic-acid gas to be produced, said means consisting, essentially, of a rod provided with graduations, a stop adj ustably arranged on said rod, a perforated plate secured to said carbonate-containing receptacle through which said rod extends, a slotted tube within said receptacle secured to said plate, a bottom disk within said carbonatecontaining receptacle, and means for securing the said disk in position to the lower end of the said supporting-rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In an apparatus for generating carbonicacid gas, the combination, with a cylinder adapted to receive an active liquid, of a carbonate-containing receptacle, a rod for supporting said receptacle in said cylinder, a slotted tube on the lower end of said rod, a bot- ICO IIO

tom disk encircling said tube, and means for attaching said disk to said rod,substantia1ly as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an apparatus for generating carbonicacid gas, the combination, with a cylinder, a

suspension-rod in said cylinder, and a bottom disk on said rod, of a slotted tube, and a receptacle adapted `to receivea charge of carf bonate, said tube and receptacle being slidably arranged upon said suspension-rod and acting by gravity on said charge of carbonate to constantly force the same down upon the said bottom disk, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of October, 1901.

FRITZ A. FELDKAMP.

Witnesses:

FREDK.` C. FRAENTZEL, GEO. D. RICHARDS.

the invention set t5 

